A Night of Serious Drinking

This masterful work of symbolic fiction takes readers on a surreal journey through the absurdities of intellectual society. Published in 1938, this allegorical novel remains one of Daumal’s most significant literary achievements.

A Night of Serious Drinking is not just a novel; it is a profound exploration of the human condition, filled with Daumal’s unique blend of wit, satire, and philosophical insight. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in the Beat Generation, surrealist literature, or the timeless quest for understanding the complexities of life.

The story follows an unnamed narrator who, during an evening of heavy drinking with friends, embarks on a fantastical voyage that oscillates between paradisiacal visions and the depths of hell. As the night progresses and the party becomes increasingly intoxicated, the narrator encounters a series of bizarre and symbolic experiences that satirize various aspects of modern life, including science, politics, and philosophy.

Daumal’s narrative is rich with humor and intellectual games, featuring characters with absurd titles such as Anthographers, Fabricators of Useless Objects, and Clarificators. These characters, while seemingly outlandish, reflect the familiar figures of scientists, politicians, and poets, all engaged in their own quests for meaning.

René Daumal (1908–44) was an editor of the French poetry and surrealist review Le Grand Jeu and received the Jacques Doucet Prize for his first volume of poetry, Le Contre-Ciel. Mount Analogue was first published, posthumously, in 1952.